At tonight’s Jersey City Youth Foundation fundraiser Mayor Steven Fulop spoke of the tragic death the city couple killed in a Virginia tornado last week and the organization is donating half of tonight’s proceeds to the couple’s family.

“It is the most tragic thing imaginable,” Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said at the event at Zeppelin Hall Restaurant & Biergarten of the eath of Lord Balatbat and Lolibeth Ortega, both 38 years old, as well as the injuries to all three of their children.

“There is going to be a tremendous amount of rehab, of education dollars of support for the children’s caretakers,” said Fulop at the event attended by about 200 people.

“Everyone is pulling together to help in any way we can.”

Each year, the Jersey City Youth Foundation raises from $50,000 to $75,000 through donations to buy backpacks and school supplies for city children. The purchase of $55,000 in backpacks has already been made but tonight's aim was to raise funds for supplies to stuff the packs, Foundation President Veronica Park said.

Park said about $10,000 was raised tonight and half of that will go to the couple’s family

“I’m a mother and I can’t imagine the devastation that that family is experiencing,” said Park. “I believe in Jersey City so much that I know that if it were me, the community would help my kids in whatever way they can.”

Lord Balatbat worked at Walgreens on Seaview Avenue in Jersey and tonight, Walgreens Pharmacy Supervisor John Colaizzi said “It has been a very tragic time for the city and Walgreens.”

On July 13 Jersey City Police Detective Melvin Santiago, 23, was shot dead in the parking lot of the Walgreens on Kennedy Boulevard and Communipaw Avenue by Lawrence Campbell, 27, as the officer responded to a robbery call. Campbell was shot dead by other officers.

Colaizzi noted the “horrific events that happened in our community and the sudden and tragic death of our store manager, Lord Balatbat. He and his wife tragically lost their lives in in a tornado in Virginia last week, leaving his children with no parents.”

The family was camping when the tornado sent a tree crashing on the couple’s tent on Thursday, killing them. Their son, Lheandrew, 14, remains in a coma. Tonight Fulop said the boy’s injuries are very serious.

Their daughter, Lharizia Ann, 12, suffered a leg and ear injury, and their 7-year-old daughter, Lheana Ann, was struck in the stomach by a tree limb.

“He is a wonderful boy,” said Francine Luce of the boy. She is principal of Ezra L. Nolan Middle School where Lheandrew is a student. “He is extremely polite - went out of his way to say hello and speak to every teacher on a personal level all the time. You don’t get that from all the student. He is a very likeable kid.”